KnownCarProblems2009 Audi A3 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 47 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Audi A3, most often about the air bags (47% of complaints). It is 6th of 22 A3 model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2009 Audi A3 problems
Air bags
22 complaints · 47%The contact owned a 2009 Audi A3. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the ABS and the ESC warning lights flickered. As a result, the brake pedal and accelerator pedal failed to engage and caused the contact to crash into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained a mild concussion and…
The contact owned a 2009 Audi A3. While driving on a hill, the vehicle could not be stopped due to black ice. As a result, the vehicle was involved in a front end collision with a telephone pole. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard where it was deemed…
Transmission
15 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 61,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
Car would not go into gear, transmission froze up. All the gear lights were flashing prnd. Had to have it towed to dealer. They stated that the megatronic transmission module had to be replaced and the part needed to come from europe.
Transmission goes into neutral while at highway speeds. Engine rpms jump to redline while car is in neutral, then goes back into gear. Has happen several times while on the highway. Transmission also kicks down to lowest gear when coming at stop, jerking the car while braking.
Brakes
9 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 87,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock.
The contact owned a 2009 Audi A3. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the ABS and the ESC warning lights flickered. As a result, the brake pedal and accelerator pedal failed to engage and caused the contact to crash into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained a mild concussion and…
The ABS control module has failed and I've read this is an ongoing issue with all 2009 models from Audi to volkswagen tsi engine models. The vehicle had ABS steering and brake lights come on within the cluster. When braking the brakes locked up causing me to lose control. Thankfully I was not going fast it didn't…
Engine
6 complaints · 13%Parts named most often: engine.
While driving, all power to the engine just suddenly turns off without warning. It has happened a few times while on the freeway and almost caused an accident, as a couple semis kept me from pulling off the road before losing significant speed that cause merging to be very difficult. Upon trying to restart, one time…
Audi / vw had a class action lawsuit on this cars timing chain and timing chain tensioner. The extended warranty has expired. Mine broke at 95000 miles. So I'm sure there are other Audi owners that don't even know this happened. This is costing me over 1000$. And should of been a full recall, not this other bs. It is…
Electrical
5 complaints · 11%Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel.
I have an Audi A3 sportback 1.4 tfsi attraction 2009. While driving or when the car is stationary the selector lever position indicator within the instrument panel is flashing. When this happens the car may not move and the depress brake pedal indicator light illuminates. I apply the brakes and nothing happened. I…
The contact owns a 2009 Audi A3. The contact stated that the ABS and stability control failed to function properly and made the vehicle unstable to drive. Bell Audi (782 US-1, edison, nj 08817, ([phone]) and the manufacturer indicated that the vehicle was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 16v913000 (service brakes…
Stability control
4 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: control module.
The contact owns a 2009 Audi A3. While driving 35 MPH, the ABS and ESC indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the ABS module failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired by an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The…
The contact owns a 2009 Audi A3. The contact stated that the ABS and stability control failed to function properly and made the vehicle unstable to drive. Bell Audi (782 US-1, edison, nj 08817, ([phone]) and the manufacturer indicated that the vehicle was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 16v913000 (service brakes…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2009 Audi A3 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began february 23, 2018. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69r6. Note: this recall partially supersedes recall 16v-078.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 audi a3, 2007-2009 a4 cabriolet and s4 cabriolet, 2008 rs4 cabriolet, 2009-2012 q5, and 2010-2012 audi a5 cabriolet and s5 cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Stability control: electronic stability control (esc)
Risk: A loss of vehicle control can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control module software to improve the module's self-testing abilities. Any module that fails the new diagnostic test will be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began february 2017. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 volkswagen jetta a5 sedan, 2009 volkswagen jetta sportwagen, eos, gti, rabbit and audi a3 vehicles, and 2010 volkswagen golf a6 vehicles. The antilock brake system (ABS) control unit may fail during ABS or electronic stability control (ESC) activation, possibly causing a loss of vehicle control.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began march 2017. Volkswagen owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2006 volkswagen passat sedans and wagons, 2005-2013 audi a3, and 2006-2009 audi a4 cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Fuel system: tank assembly
Risk: In the presence of an ignition source, a vehicle fire could occur.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners and audi dealers will replace the fuel tank ventilation valve with an improved valve free of charge. The safety recall began on november 16, 2009. Owners may contact audi at 1-800-253-2834.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2010 audi a3, tt, and tt roadster passenger vehicles manufactured between september 29, 2005 and august 26, 2009. The closing force of an internal spring of the fuel tank ventilation valve is not adequate enough to hold the valve closed under extreme driving conditions possibly allowing fuel to leak.
Transmission: automatic transmission
Risk: The abrupt shift to neutral could lead to a crash without warning.
Fix: Volkswagen will reprogram the transmission control module with updated software free of charge. The recall began on october 20, 2009. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2009 and 2010 passenger cars manufactured between september 2008 and august 2009. The wiring harness of a temperature sensor in the direct shift gearbox (dsg) may have connector wires that were insufficiently crimped. With insufficiently crimped connector wires, a temperature sensor has the potential to falsely detect a high gearbox oil temperature, causing the transmission to abruptly shift to neutral. If this happens, the selector lever position indicator within the instrument panel will flash. In addition, the "depress brake pedal" indicator light will be illuminated, alerting the driver to apply the brakes.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Diesel fuel injector line leakage
Summary
By letter dated october 3, 2011, volkswagen group of america, inc. (vw) notified the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) that it will conduct a safety recall to address a defect in approximately 168,275 model year (my) 2009-2012 volkswagen jetta, jetta sportwagen, golf, and audi a3 vehicles equipped with the 2.0l tdi common rail clean diesel engine (NHTSA recall no. 11v-490).the recalled jetta and jetta sportwagen vehicles were built from may 2008 through september 2011, the golf vehicles were built from may 2009 through september 2011, and the audi a3 vehicles were built from september 2009 through september 2011.according to volkswagen, in u.s. Applications of the above
Vehicle stall/loss motive power
Summary
The subject vehicles are equipped with direct shift gearbox (dsg) transmissions, which feature a 6-speed automatic gearbox with two wet running clutches (dual clutch) in which the clutch mechanism and gear changes are electrohydraulically operated by a mechatronic control unit.the dsg mechatronic controller includes extensive self diagnostic functions and strategies to ensure safe operation and prevent system/component damage in the event of component failures or harsh operating conditions.the basic hierarchy of fault modes includes some that only result in the storage of a diagnostic trouble code (dtc) and cause no loss of function, some that store a dtc and reduce vehicle operation to a li
Questions about the 2009 Audi A3
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Audi A3?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (22 complaints); transmission (15 complaints, typically around 61,500 miles); brakes (9 complaints, typically around 87,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2009 Audi A3 have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 30, 2018 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2009 a bad year for the Audi A3?
- It is 6th of 22 A3 model years by number of complaints, with 47 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.